Stay order extended in tsunami house distribution to Muslims

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 June 2008, 16:47 GMT]The Supreme Court Thursday extended its interim stay order in the Fundamental Rights petition filed by the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) parliamentarian Venerable Ellawela Methanananda Thera and officials of Deegavapi Restoration Committee against the distribution of about five hundred houses constructed under tsunami rehabilitation project to members of the Muslim community, legal sources said. The three member bench of the Supreme Court said the stay order would be in force until the inquiry into the FR petition is over. The inquiry has been put of for September 9.

Two ministers Ms Ferial Ashraff and Jeevan Kumaratunga, Ampaarai Government Agent, and related government officials have been cited as respondents in the petition.

Petitioners have stated in their petition that the distribution of houses constructed in Deegavapi to Muslim people could destroy the Buddhist values preserved in Deegavapi sacred area and is tantamount of violating the fundamental rights of Buddhists who revere and worship Deegavapi Buddhist Vihare, legal sources said.